The note started… Although this is a request on how to make a donation, there is a short story concerning the discovery of the gift itself.

Between 1976 and 1984 the ‘Esquimalt Blades’ senior men’s hockey team played late Sunday nights at the Archie Browning Sports Centre.

More than thirty years later, while downsizing, team member David Everard was going through his hockey bag. Much to his surprise, he found a stray envelope inside of a ‘sanitary’ sock at the bottom of the bag. Inside the sock was $260 of old, paper currency. As he recalls it, the money had been intended as some sort of a petty cash to be used in case of an emergency.

Luckily, he managed to track down some of the players involved and they agreed that the proper thing to do was to donate the money to Minor Hockey. They even rounded the amount up to an even $300.

So, with all in agreement, the Esquimalt Blades have made a donation to VMHA in memory of their friend, teammate and goaltender extraordinaire Dave Smith.

VMHA is grateful for the donation and have put the funds towards supporting the development of our newest initiation and novice hockey members.

The Victoria Grizzlies are proud to announce that Victoria native Jacson Alexander has committed to play for the Grizzlies for the next two seasons beginning the 2017-2018 season.

Alexander currently is in his second season with the Shawnigan Lake School Prep team, and prior to that he played minor hockey with the Victoria Minor Hockey Association, and Bantam with the Victoria Racquet Club.

Alexander, who turned 16 earlier this month, was selected in the first round of the 2016 WHL Bantam draft by the Swift Current Broncos, however, he has opted to play Junior hockey in the BCHL for his hometown team. Alexander has chosen the BCHL route, in order to stay eligible for his scholarship acceptance to play for the University of Denver; where he is planning to attend and play NCAA hockey beginning the 2019-2020 season.

Alexander is a smooth skating offensive defenseman that brings lots of speed and skill.

“We are very pleased with Jacson’s choice to join our hockey club next season. Jacson is a local player who we have been tracking for many seasons. The fact that this talented young man is going to make the Grizzlies a part of his hockey journey makes us extremely proud and we are excited to help him develop into a NCAA and professional hockey player.” stated Craig Didmon, Victoria Grizzlies Head Coach/GM.

Alexander has been in the eyes of the Grizzlies scouting staff, for a number of years, as he has attended Grizzlies prospects camps and has well practiced with the team on and off for a few seasons.